Now Playing

More Pressure To Release Hillsborough Files

The pressure's on the Government to release details of Margaret Thatcher's private Cabinet discussions on the Hillsborough football disaster.

More than 63,000 people have signed an e-petition on the Downing Street website calling for the release of ministerial papers relating to the 1989 tragedy in which 96 Liverpool fans died in a crush.

The signatories include footballer Michael Owen, the musician Billy Bragg, the actor Simon Pegg and the comedian Dara O Briain, The Times reported.

The paper said that there had been a surge of support after it was championed by Newcastle United footballer Joey Barton on his Twitter page.

It now looks likely to receive the 100,000 backers required to force MPs to consider staging a Commons debate on the issue.

The petition follows a ruling by the Information Commissioner Christopher Graham that the papers should now be made public.

The Cabinet Office has said it will appeal against the decision in order to allow the Hillsborough Independent Panel, established by the previous government to look into the circumstances and aftermath of the disaster, to oversee the disclosure of documents.